Semi-sweet Chocolate Frosting

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Source: America's Test Kitchen.

Chocolate frosting · Semi-sweet chocolate · American

Melted semi-sweet chocolate and cocoa powder are beaten into butter and cream until the frosting turns pale, light and fluffy, giving it a deep chocolate flavour without being overly sweet. It whips up quickly in a stand mixer and spreads smoothly over a cooled cake or cupcakes.

Prep15 min
Cook0 min
Total15 min
DifficultyEasy
Per serving290 kcal
FreeLow saltVegetarian
Servings16Recipe makes 16
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Allergens (EU 14)
GlutenCrustaceansEggsFishPeanutsSoybeansMilkTree nutsCeleryMustardSesameSulphitesLupinMolluscs

Always check the labels of the products you use.

Method

  1. 1

    Melt the chocolate. Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over barely simmering water, or in short bursts in the microwave, stirring until smooth. Set aside to cool to room temperature.

  2. 2

    Cream the butter. In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the butter, cream, vanilla, salt and melted chocolate on medium-high speed until combined.

  3. 3

    Add the sugar and cocoa. Reduce the speed to medium-low. With the mixer running, slowly add the icing sugar and cocoa powder and mix until smooth, 1-2 minutes.

  4. 4

    Whip until fluffy. Increase the speed to medium-high and beat the frosting until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.

Storage

Store airtight in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to a month; bring to room temperature and beat briefly before using.

EU nutrition claims

  • Low salt: 0.23 g salt per 100 g (limit ≤ 0.3 g)

Per 100 g of the finished dish, worked out from the nutrition per serving and the lowest likely cooked weight (about 57 g a serving), so the true values are, if anything, lower. Thresholds from the Annex to EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. How we decide

Free sugars

Sugar (daily guide)

20.8 g per serving

41.6 % of the 50 g daily maximum · 83.2 % of the ideal 25 g

Free sugars under 50 g a day, ideally about 25 g, based on WHO free-sugar guidance (not endorsed by WHO). The share shown is the share of one serving. WHO

Equipment

  • heatproof bowl
  • small saucepan (for a double boiler) or microwave
  • stand mixer with whisk or paddle attachment
  • rubber spatula

Nutrition per serving Calculated from USDA FoodData Central

Per servingAmount
Energy290 kcal
Protein1 g
Carbohydrate31 g
of which sugars28.7 g
of which free sugars20.8 g
Fat19.8 g
of which saturates12.2 g
Fibre1.2 g
Salt0.13 g

Protein per 100 kcal

0.3 g High protein needs ≥ 5 g per 100 kcal (20% of energy) and ≥ 10 g per serving

Calculated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient values